Book rest

ABSTRACT

The invention provides an improved book rest. The book rest includes a base and a tablet pivotably mounted at one end. A cam body having a contoured shape is positioned in use between the base and the tablet, the cam body being rotatable relative to one of the tablet and the base about a rotation axis and having an engagement surface which varies in distance from the rotation axis such that said rotation, in use, causes the engagement surface to, in combination with gravity, cause said pivotal movement of the tablet relative to the base. In certain embodiments, the invention provides an improved book rest comprising a simple page turning device. In some embodiments, a bracket mounted at the top end of the tablet having a pivotably mounted shaft with a sliding shuttle is used to turn pages. The shaft can be rotated about a normal axis to the bracket. The shuttle body having a body and a resilient end extending therefrom can be operatively positioned on the page and slide along the shaft to lift a page for turning.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/240,746, filed Sep. 9, 2009. The foregoing application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of book stands, lecterns, slant boards, book rests and other forms of printed material support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various stands to support a book or script in a convenient position for a reader are known in the art. Namely, variations are known in the art for seated readers, for standing readers and for reclining readers. However, book rests are typically fixed angle or preset or predefined angular positions. There is still a need in the art for improved methods of adjusting the angular position of a book or script to suit individual readers or the required level of comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved means to adjust the angular position of a book or other item on a rest. The instant invention provides a support enabling adjustment of the angular position of a book or other item to any desired position virtually from flat to upright. In certain embodiments, the instant invention provides a method that improves the ease with which pages of a book or other printed material with pages on a book rest are turned.

A support for print materials forms one aspect of the invention. The support comprises a base, a tablet and a cam body. The tablet is pivotably movable relative to the base in the general manner in which a book leaf is movable relative to the book of which it forms part. The cam body is positioned in use between the base and the tablet, the cam body being rotatable relative to one of the tablet and the base about a rotation axis and having an engagement surface which varies in distance from the rotation axis such that said rotation, in use, causes the engagement surface to, in combination with gravity, cause said pivotal movement of the tablet relative to the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the cam body can be removable from said one of the tablet and base and the tablet can have a rest position disposed in stacked relation against the base and be movable to the rest position upon removal of the cam body.

According to another aspect of the invention, said one of the table and base can be the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the base and tablet can be hingedly connected to one another to allow for said pivotal movement, the hinged connection defining a Pivot axis.

According to another aspect of the invention

-   -   the cam body can have a pintle defining the rotation axis;     -   the base can have a series of bores defined therein, at         different distances from the pivot axis, each bore being adapted         to receive the pintle and providing, when the pintle is received         in said each bore and the cam body is rotated in use, for         pivotal movement of the tablet between a respective lowered         position and a respective raised position; and     -   the tablet can have a rest position disposed in stacked relation         upon the base and be movable to the rest position upon removal         of the cam body from between the tablet and the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support can further comprise a sub-base to which the base is rotatably mounted for movement in the manner of a turntable platen.

According to another aspect of the invention, the base can be removably rotatably mounted to the sub-base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tablet can have a surface for receiving a book and a book rest flange projecting from the surface adjacent to the pivot axis.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the cam body can be rotatably mounted on a base at a fixed position with a pintle defining the rotational axis for the cam body. The shape of the cam body is such that the engagement surface varies in distance from the rotation axis such that in use, rotation causes the engagement surface, in combination with gravity, to result in pivotal movement of the tablet relative to the base. The pintle can have a worm wheel attached in such a manner that when in engagement with a worm gear, the rotation of the worm gear causes the rotation of the worm wheel about the axis of the pintle, thus resulting in the rotation of the cam body.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tablet can have a cut-out to the shape of the cam body. In use, when the cam body is in a rest position, the cut-out in the tablet aligns with the cam body, allowing the tablet to be positioned in a rest position that is disposed in a stacked relation against the base.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support can further comprise a page-turner, including: a bracket mounted, to the tablet adjacent the edge opposite the pivot axis, for rotation about a bracket axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the tablet; a shaft pivotably mounted to the bracket for rotation about a normal axis which is perpendicular to the bracket, axis; and a shuttle body having a body and a resilient end extending therefrom, the body being mounted to the shaft for sliding movement along a shaft axis defined by the shaft and for rotational movement about the shaft axis.

According to another aspect of the invention, the resilient end can be a rubber thimble removably mounted to the body.

According to another aspect of the invention, the shuttle body of the page turner when not in use is operatively positioned in the rest position on the printed matter (e.g., a book or script), with the thimble of the shuttle in contact with the printed matter. In rest, the friction between shuttle body and shaft, and the friction on the pivot at the shaft and the bracket, in combination with gravity causes the thimble to act as a page holding device on the reading material similar to a paper weight.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings and photographs, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 1A are photographs of a support according to exemplary embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 2A are photographs of a portion of the support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sketch similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3B is a view of the structure of FIG. 3, from another vantage point;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the structure of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the structure of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, in a rest position.

FIG. 7-A is a view of a fixed position cam in rest position.

FIG. 7-B is a view of a fixed cam in rest position with tablet disposed in stacked relation upon the base.

FIGS. 7-C to G are views of tablet position in relation to different position of cam body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A support for print materials according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached drawings and photographs and designated by general reference numeral 20.

The invention described herein may be used to support any item or material for which the user is desirous of adjusting the angle for ease of use and/or viewing. For example, in certain embodiments, the instant invention may be advantageously employed in supporting any book or script, such as, for example, a textbook, reference book, notebook, sheet music, calendar, document, or binder of various sizes and thicknesses. In other embodiments, the instant invention may be used to support a notebook, tablet computer or other laptop or handheld electronic device.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 1A, the support 20 will be seen to include a sub-base 22, a base 24, a tablet 26, a rest 28, and a cam body 30. FIG. 1 further depicts a page-turner 32.

With reference to FIG. 4, the sub-base 22 will be seen to be a planar wooden body and to have a wood dowel 34 protruding therefrom.

The base 24 will also be seen to be a planar wooden body, and will be seen to have a series of bores 36 defined in a line on one surface thereof and a socket 38 defined on the other surface thereof (shown in phantom). The socket 38 receives the dowel 34 in use, as shown in FIG. 1, so that the base 24 is rotatably releasably mounted to the sub-base 22 for movement in the manner of a turntable platen.

The tablet 26 is another wood body, has a surface 27 and is hingedly connected to the base 24 via a hinged connection 40 which defines a pivot axis X-X. It will be evident from the position of the hinged connection 40 that it renders the tablet 26 pivotably movable relative to the base 24 in the general manner in which a book leaf is movable relative the book of which it forms part.

The rest 28 takes the form of a wood flange which projects from the surface 27 adjacent to the pivot axis X-X, to define, in combination with the surface 27, a book rest.

The cam body 30 will be understood from FIG. 4 to be a wood body, to have a wood or metal pintle 42 defining a rotation axis Y-Y and to have an engagement surface 44 which varies in distance from rotation axis Y-Y.

When the cam body 30 is removed from between the base 24 and tablet 26, the tablet 26 is movable to a rest position disposed in stacked relation upon base 24, as shown in FIG. 6.

When the cam body 30 is in use, it is positioned between the base 24 and the tablet 26, with the pintle 42 thereof disposed in one of the bores 36, to permit the cam body 30 to be rotated relative to the base 24 about the rotation axis Y-Y. This rotation causes the engagement surface 44 to bear against the tablet 26 at varying positions such that the engagement surface 44, in combination with gravity, causes said pivotal movement of the tablet 26 relative to the base 24 between a lowered position and a raised position, as suggested by FIG. 5, wherein the tablet is shown in a respective raised position in blackline and in a respective lowered position in phantom.

The bores 36 are provided at different distances from the pivot axis X-X, ranging from relatively close to relatively distant, thereby to provide a series of ranges, so that the tablet 26 is, practically speaking, positionable at basically any desired position between flat and upright, by the appropriate combination of bore selection and cam body rotation.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cam body is mounted rotatably in a fixed position as in FIG. 7. The rotational axis Y-Y is a fixed axis. The cam 56 has a contoured shape when rotated about the axis Y-Y from the rest position, the engagement surface 44 varies in distance from the axis Y-Y, ranging from relatively close to relatively distant, thereby providing a series of positions allowing the tablet to be positioned at any desired position between flat and upright.

The tablet 27 in FIG. 7, has a cut-out that is bigger in size in relation to the size of the cam. At rest, the cam body mates with the cut-out in rest position as in FIG. 7-B. The cam body in use when rotated from a rest position causes the engagement surface to lift the tablet to its in-use position as in FIG. 7-C. Further rotation of the cam body about its rotational axis Y-Y from in-use position causes the tablet to move about its pivotal axis from a relative flat position to a full upright position. When the cam body is rotated in use from a relative upright position of tablet to relative flat position, the cut-out in the tablet mates with the cam body allowing the tablet to be positioned in a rest position disposed in stacked relation against the base as in FIG. 7-B.

With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 2A and FIG. 5, the page-turner 32 will be seen to include a bracket 46, a shaft 48 and a shuttle 50. The bracket 46 is removably mounted to the tablet 26 adjacent the edge opposite the pivot axis X-X, for rotation about a bracket axis Z-Z that is perpendicular to the surface 27 of the tablet 26. The bracket axis Z-Z is defined by a pin 47 that extends from the bracket 46 and is mounted in one of a series of holes 49 defined in the tablet 26. The shaft 48 is pivotably mounted to the bracket 46 for rotation about a normal axis A-A which is perpendicular to the bracket axis Z-Z. The shuttle 50 has a body 52 and a resilient end 54 extending therefrom, the body 52 being mounted to the shaft 48 for sliding movement along a shaft axis B-B defined by the shaft 48 and for rotational movement about the shaft axis B-B, The resilient end 54 is a rubber thimble removably mounted to the body 52.

In use, when the page-turner 32 is mounted to the tablet 26, a user can grip the shuttle 52 and use it to manipulate the rubber thimble 54, by sliding the shuttle along the shaft, to leaf through pages of a book operatively positioned in the rest; the page-turner 32 keeps the thimble at a convenient position for use, and enables same to be manipulated with relative ease. Depending upon the dimensions of the book with which the page-turned is to be used, it will be necessary to select an appropriate one of the holes 49 to receive the pin 47.

At rest; the page-turner 32 allows the shuttle to be conveniently positioned at the far end of the shaft 48 as such thimble 54 is positioned in contact with the next page to be leafed through. The weight of the shuttle in combination with friction at the pivot axis A-A and the friction between the shaft and the said shuttle act as a paper-weight to keep the page from flipping over.

Over time, the thimble 54 will wear, at which point it can be conveniently replaced.

Whereas but a single embodiment is herein shown and described, various modifications can be made.

For example, whereas the various components are made of wood in the exemplary embodiment, other materials, such as plastic, could be used with equal utility.

Further, whereas a fixed-axis shaft-type hinge is provided in the exemplary embodiment, this is not strictly necessary. The hinge could be a living hinge, i.e. pliable material or could be formed of inter-engaging but releasable elements formed on the base and tablet. As well, the hinge need not necessarily provide for rotation about a fixed pivot axis, but could allow for movement of the pivot axis during movement of the parts relative to one another. Thus, “pivotal” in this specification and the claims should be viewed as indicative of a connection or movement that is similar to pivotal connection or movement, irrespective of whether or not a pivot axis can be determined.

Additionally, whereas the cam body is movable via placement in one of a series of bores in the base, this is not necessary. The bores could be formed in the underside of the tablet. Alternatively, the cam body could be slidably rotatably mounted to one of the base and tablet.

Further, the manual movement of the cam body about the rotational axis Y-Y can be mechanically operated as in FIG. 7 by the use of a worm-wheel 55 attached to the cam body that is rotated about the rotational axis by a worm gear. The rotation of the worm gear can be automated allowing the rotation of the cam body causing the movement of the tablet about the pivot axis X-X.

Yet further, it will be understood that the sub-base and page-turners are optional, only, and would not be required or desired by many users.

Further, the page turner need not be necessarily mounted on the tablet, but could be secured, for example, by a clip or a suction cup, thereby to permit, for example, the page turner to be positioned on the back cover of a book or attached to a surface using the suction cup.

Further, in embodiments comprising a page turner with a removable thimble, the removable thimble fitted on the page turner can be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, rubber or a rubber-like material having small suction cups around the thimble for better grip of the pages.

In yet further embodiments, the rotational movement of the shuttle body around the axis of the shaft of the page turner and the sliding movement of the shuttle body along the shaft can be automated.

The components of the instant invention may be made of any suitable material. For example, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 1A, a sub-base 22, a base 24, a tablet 26, a rest 28, and/or a cam body 30 may be made of wood, metal, plastic, resin, or any suitable synthetic and/or natural polymer.

Finally, but without limitation, it will be appreciated that the book stand can also be integrated, for example, in lecterns or desks.

Having thus described in detail embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention defined by the above paragraphs is not to be limited to particular details set forth in the above description as many apparent variations thereof are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Each patent, patent application, and publication cited or described in the present application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if each individual patent, patent application, or publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 

1. A support for print materials, said support comprising: a base; a tablet, pivotably movable relative to the base in the general manner in which a book leaf is movable relative the book of which it forms part; and a cam body, positioned in use between the base and the tablet, the body being rotatable relative to one of the tablet and the base about a rotation axis and having an engagement surface which varies in distance from the rotation axis such that said rotation, in use, causes the engagement surface to, in combination with gravity, cause said pivotal movement of the tablet relative to the base.
 2. A support according to claim 1, wherein the cam body is removable from said one of the tablet and base; and the tablet has a rest position disposed in stacked relation against the base and is movable to the rest position upon removal of the cam body.
 3. A support according to claim 1, wherein said one of the table and base is the base.
 4. A support according to claim 1, wherein the base and tablet are hingedly connected to one another to allow for said pivotal movement, the hinged connection defining a Pivot axis.
 5. A support according to claim 4, wherein: the cam body has a pintle defining the rotation axis; the base has a series of bores defined therein, at different distances from the pivot axis, each bore being adapted to receive the pintle and providing, when the pintle is received in said each bore and the cam body is rotated in use, for pivotal movement of the tablet between a respective lowered position and a respective raised Position; and the tablet has a rest position disposed in stacked relation upon the base and is movable to the rest position upon removal of the cam body from between the tablet and the base.
 6. A support according to claim 1, further comprising a sub-base to which the base is rotatably mounted for movement in the manner of a turntable platen.
 7. A support according to claim 6, wherein the base is removably rotatably mounted to the sub-base.
 8. A support according to claim 4, wherein the tablet has a surface for receiving a book and a book rest flange projecting from the surface adjacent to the pivot axis.
 9. A support according to claim 8, further comprising: a page-turner, including: a bracket mounted, to the tablet adjacent the edge opposite the pivot axis, for rotation about a bracket axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the tablet; a shaft pivotably mounted to the bracket for rotation about a normal axis which is perpendicular to the bracket axis; and a shuttle body having a body and a resilient end extending therefrom, the body being mounted to the shaft for sliding movement along a shaft axis defined by the shaft and for rotational movement about the shaft axis.
 10. A support according to claim 9, wherein the resilient end is a rubber thimble removably mounted to the body.
 11. A support according to claim 10, wherein: the tablet has a series of holes in the surface thereof; and the bracket axis is defined by a pin that extends from the bracket and is releasably mounted for rotation in one of the series of holes in use.
 12. A support according to claim 5, wherein: the cam body is rotatably mounted in fixed relation to the base; the cam body comprises a pintle attached to a worm wheel, wherein when the worm wheel is rotated, the cam body is rotated such that there is pivotal movement of the tablet between a respective lowered in-use position and a respective raised position.
 13. A support according to claim 12, wherein: the tablet has a cut-out that mates with the cam body in rest position; the tablet has a rest position disposed in stacked relation upon the base; wherein the tablet is movable to the rest position upon movement of the cam body to its rest position in which the cut-out in the tablet aligns with the cam body.
 14. A support according to claim 12, wherein: the cam body is a contoured shape such that when rotated from rest position, lifts the tablet to its in-use position. 